Performance evaluation of different empirical models for reference evapotranspiration estimation over Udhagamandalm, The Nilgiris, India.

Evapotranspiration (ETo) is an important component of the hydrological cycle and reliable estimates of ETo are essential for assessing crop water requirements and irrigation management. Direct measurement of evapotranspiration is both costly and involves complex and intricate procedures. Hence, empirical models are commonly utilized to estimate ETo using accessible meteorological data. Given that empirical methods operate on various assumptions, it is essential to assess their performance to pinpoint the most suitable methods for ETo calculation based on the availability of input data and the specific climatic conditions of a region. This study aims to evaluate different empirical methods of ETo in the tropical highland Udhagamandalam region of Tamil Nadu, India, utilizing sixty years of meteorological data from 1960-2020. In this study, 8 temperature-based and 10 radiation-based empirical models are evaluated against ETo estimates derived from pan evaporation observation and the FAO Penman-Monteith method (FAO-PM), respectively. Statistical error metrics indicate that both temperature and radiation-based models perform better for the Udhagamandalam region. However, radiation-based models performed better than the temperature based models. This is possibly due to the high humidity of the study region throughout the year. The results suggest that simple temperature and radiation-based models using minimum meteorological information are adequate to estimate ETo and thus find potential application in agricultural water practices, hydrological processes, and irrigation management.

Anatomy and Variations of Onodi Cells and Haller Cells: A HRCT Cum Clinical Analysis in Sinonasal Disease and Polyposis.

The Onodi cell is defined as the posterior-most ethmoid cell. Haller cells are defined as infraorbital ethmoid cells. HRCT scanning provides excellent bone detail and accurate soft tissue mapping. The aim of this study is to know the prevalence of Haller cells and Onodi cells and to find variations in them on HRCT. Also to find co-relation between HRCT findings and Intra operative findings. A Hospital based prospective and cross-sectional study which included 30 patients above 15 years of age coming to ENT OPD with complaints related to sinonasal disease and polyposis;willing for HRCT followed by operative procedures. A total of 30 patients are included in the study. The mean age was found to be 38.70 ± 14.37. Prevalence of haller cells and onodi cells was 30% and 33.3% respectively. Statistical significance was found between association of haller cells with sinusitis. Intra-operative findings corresponded to 8 out of 9 HRCT findings (p-value = 0.001). We conclude that the actual prevalence of haller cell and onodi cell is best noted on HRCT-PNS and this holds a significant role in imparting thorough knowledge of the anatomical variations of PNS and hence preventing intraoperative complications due to presence of these variant cells.

Development of a numerical model for sector-average plume gamma dose and its validation with dose rate measurements at Kalpakkam NPP site, India.

A Gaussian Plume based simple numerical model, named DIFFUSE is developed to simulate the long-term sector-average plume gamma dose due to radioactive plume released during normal operation of nuclear facilities. DIFFUSE calculates site specific joint frequency distributions of wind speed, wind direction and atmospheric stability using micrometeorological observations. It performs the finite sector-average dose integration for any stack height and gamma energy using Simpson's 1/3rd method with sufficient computational efficiency within the site boundary up to 2 km. Plume dose contribution to the main plume sector from nearest and next nearest side plume sectors is also calculated. DIFFUSE is validated with a 3-month long, starting from February 2021 to April 2021, dose rate observation data during operational releases from 100 m stack of Madras Atomic Power Station, Kalpakkam, India. Meteorological data from onsite 50 m tower and continuous dose rate observation from two sets of Autonomous Gamma Dose Logger (AGDL) detectors, namely n-AGDLs and r-AGDLs, placed in two different configurations along the geometric arcs of wind sectors around the stack are used. Simulated doses are compared with look-up table based dose estimates by Hukkoo et al. (1988). Linear spatial averaging of cumulative AGDL doses on a sector arc is used as measured sector-average dose for model validation. Simulations performed for both n-AGDL and r-AGDL configurations show DIFFUSE estimated doses are ∼37% lower and Hukkoo estimated doses are at least ∼50% lower than the measured doses. Statistical analysis of DIFFUSE simulated doses shows a statistical correlation of R2∼98.3%, slope of the fit ∼1.36 for n-AGDL setup and R2∼75.3%, slope of the fit ∼1.57 for r-AGDL setup. Overall, DIFFUSE produces conservative doses compared to look-up table based doses as required by regulatory bodies.

Integrated use of regional weather forecasting and crop modeling for water stress assessment on rice yield.

This study evaluated the effects of water stress on rice yield over Punjab and Haryana across North India by integrating Weather Research Forecasting (WRF) and Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) models. Indian Remote Sensing Satellite datasets were used to define land use/land cover in WRF. The accuracy of simulated rainfall and temperature over Punjab and Haryana was evaluated against Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission and automated weather station data of Indian Space Research Organization, respectively. Data from WRF was used as weather input to DSSAT to simulate rice yield in Punjab and Haryana for 2009 and 2014. After simulated yield has been evaluated against district-level observed yield, the water balance components within the DSSAT model were used to analyze the impact of water stress on rice yield. The correlation (R2) between the crop water stress factor and the rice yield anomaly at the vegetative and reproductive stage was 0.64 and 0.52 for Haryana and 0.73 and 0.68 for Punjab, respectively. Severe water stress during the flowering to maturity stage inflicted devastating effects on yield. The study concludes that the regional climate simulations can be potentially used for early water stress prediction and its impact on rice yield.

Distribution, annual committed effective dose, and health safety assessment of 210Po in marine biota from Kalpakkam coast, Bay of Bengal.

Seafood, intertidal biota, beach sediment, and seawater from Kalpakkam coast, Bay of Bengal were analyzed for 210Po to evaluate the internal exposure and other radiological safety aspects. Kalpakkam houses various nuclear power generation facilities on its coast. The activity concentration of 210Po was more pronounced in the intertidal organisms. Pelagic planktivorous fishes have the highest activity of the non-technogenic radionuclide, followed by the detrital feeders, benthic planktivores, benthic carnivores, and pelagic carnivore fishes. The affinity of 210Po to organic detrital matter and planktonic organisms has led to a higher accumulation of radionuclide in planktivorous fishes. Activity concentration of 210Po in seafood ranged between 1.13 ± 0.3 and 96.71 ± 1.6 Bq kg-1 (Becquerel/kilogram). In seaweeds and gastropods, it ranged from 2.09 ± 0.2 to 8.21 ± 0.6 and from 9.31 ± 0.7 to 21.58 ± 1.2 Bq kg-1, respectively. The committed effective dose (CED) of 210Po in seafood varied from 31.18 to 456.68 µSv yr-1 (microSievert/year). Radiological hazard parameters, such as activity intake, CED in consumption, of the seafood from this coast are within the acceptable levels prescribed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection and US Environmental Protection Agency.

Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis: A Comparative Study of Traditional Antihistamine oral Rupatidine Versus Oral Rupatidine with a Lipid Based Nasal Ointment.

Allergic rhinitis is a common and debilitating disease that has a major effect on the health related quality of life. The usage of corticosteroids topically and newer generation antihistamines have been the hallmark of recent advances in treatment of allergic rhinitis. Hence this study was taken to clinically evaluate the efficacy of lipid-based ointment and traditional antihistamine Rupatidine in treatment of moderate persistent allergic rhinitis. This study was designed to compare the efficacy of lipid-based ointment and traditional antihistamine in the treatment of moderate persistent allergic rhinitis. 60 Patients aged between 15 and 70 years with moderate to severe symptoms of allergic rhinitis were chosen after history taking, clinical examination and relevant lab investigations-nasal smear examination and serum IgE levels in specific. They were randomized into two groups and started on either lipid based ointment (to apply ointment to nasal vestibule twice daily) with tablet Rupaditine 10 mg OD and only tablet Rupatidine 10 mg OD alone. Patients were asked to observe the efficacy of their treatment on daily basis. Mean age of patients in lipid based ointment group with tablet Rupatidine was 33.53 years and only tablet Rupatidine group was 28.9 years. Positive family history was present in 13.3 % patients in group I with 26.6 % patients in group II. Symptoms score decreased from baseline in group I as compared to group II. Lipid based ointment with tablet Rupatidine is superior in relieving moderate allergic rhinitis compared to tablet Rupatidine alone.

Novice's Sojourn to Parotid Surgery.

Salivary gland tumors are rare, comprising less than 3% of all neoplasia of head and neck region. Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common salivary gland tumor, accounting for 60-80% of benign tumors of salivary glands, which predominantly affect the superficial lobe of the parotid gland. The "pleomorphic" nature of the tumor can be explained on the basis of its epithelial and connective tissue origin. Usually they are found as solitary unilateral, firm and mobile, painless, slow growing mass. The tumor has a female predilection between 30 and 50 years of age. Utmost care is to be taken to preserve the facial nerve while performing superficial or total parotidectomy. We present 10 cases of pleomorphic adenoma of parotid gland over period of 2 years, highlighting the prognosis following surgical management.

Monte Carlo simulation of an HPGe detector for detection of 239Pu in waste assay system.

This paper discusses the modeling of HPGe detector used in waste assay system using Monte Carlo code FLUKA to determine its detection limits. The modeled detector is validated using experimental point sources efficiencies in the energy range 60 keV-2000 keV. The numerical estimation of efficiency values for 239Pu present inside a 230 L cotton filled waste drum at various locations along the axis of the detector is discussed. Estimation of the minimum detectable activity (MDA) for 239Pu at these locations in the presence of 1 MBq of 137Cs/60Co again along the axis of the detector is examined. The efficiency of 239Pu decreases from 6.1 × 10-10 to 7.5 × 10-11 cps/Bq as the location of 239Pu moves away from the detector. MDA of 239Pu increases as the position of 239Pu and 137Cs/60Co in the waste drum shifts away from the detector while it decreases as the location of 137Cs/60CO moves away from 239Pu along measurement axis. It is observed that for all locations of 137Cs/60Co with 239Pu located up to 200 mm from the edge of the drum, the detection limit is within 140.3 mg (allowed limit).

A Drastic Aftermath of Embolisation in Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma.

The role of preoperative embolization in alleviating intra operative haemorrhage in small to medium sized JNA is dubious. We report an unusual case of JNA who developed cerebral edema, hemiplegia and aphasia following glue embolisation and underwent frontotemporal craniectomy. This drastic aftermath of embolisation challenges the safety of preoperative embolisation in such lesions.

Clinical Study to Evaluate the Association Between Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Diabetes Mellitus in Poorly Controlled Patients Whose HbA1c >8.

The relationship between sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and Diabetes mellitus has been known since more than 150 years. The pathophysiology of diabetes related hearing loss is speculative. Hearing loss is usually, bilateral, gradual onset, affecting higher frequencies. This study aims at knowing the prevalence of SNHL in DM and its relation to age, sex, duration of DM and control of DM. A total of 50 type 2 diabetics of age group 30-65 years were involved in the study. FBS, PPBS, HbA1c of all the subjects were done and later subjected to PTA. The type and severity of hearing loss was noted. Occurrence of SNHL was later compared with age, sex, duration, and control of DM. Sensorineural hearing loss was found in 66 % of type II diabetic patients and 34 % were found normal. Out of 50 diabetes mellitus patients, 33 patients had SNHL. All cases of SNHL detected were of gradual in onset and no one had hearing loss of sudden onset. Normal hearing was found in 34 % of patients, whereas 54 % of patients had mild hearing loss and 12 % of patients had moderate hearing loss. Association of hearing loss of DM patients with sex of the patient is insignificant. However there is significant association between older age group, longer duration and uncontrolled DM with that of SNHL. In subjects with HbA1c more than 8 and duration of diabetes mellitus more than 10 years prevalence of SNHL is more than 85 %, which is statistically significant. Sensorineural hearing loss in diabetes mellitus is gradually progressive involving high frequency thresholds. Hearing threshold increases with increasing age duration of diabetes and also high level of HbA1c greater than 8 %.

The effect of spatially varying velocity field on the transport of radioactivity in a porous medium.

In the event of an accidental leak of the immobilized nuclear waste from an underground repository, it may come in contact of the flow of underground water and start migrating. Depending on the nature of the geological medium, the flow velocity of water may vary spatially. Here, we report a numerical study on the migration of radioactivity due to a space dependent flow field. For a detailed analysis, seven different types of velocity profiles are considered and the corresponding concentrations are compared.

Numerical simulation of the transport of a radionuclide chain in a rock medium.

For the safe disposal of High Level Waste (HLW), a common practice is to bury the sealed container called canister containing the concentrated and vitrified waste deep inside the earth surface within a rocky medium. In the event of an accidental breach of such a canister, the sealed waste may come in contact of pore water. If this happens, then the parent nuclides present in the HLW and their daughters generated by the radioactive decay reaction start migrating through the surrounding rock medium due to the combined effect of advection and diffusion. The accurate estimation of the transport of such a chain through a rock is important for radiological safety. Here, we report a finite difference based numerical simulation to address the issue. To simplify the problem, we consider the rock to be a collection of identical parallel fractures separated by porous matrices of equal width with a source at one end. A Forward Time and Centered Space (FTCS) finite difference scheme is implemented to solve the set of coupled partial differential equations that govern the transport mechanism. The scheme is validated using the methods available in the literature and subsequently it is applied to estimate the time dependent buildup of the active elements of a chain. Two independent chains each with three members are considered for simulation to address the safety related issues.

Paraganglioma of right cervical plexus-a case report.

Head and neck paragangliomas (HNPs) and pheochromocytomas are rare tumors. Catecholamine secreting tumors that arise from chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla and the sympathetic ganglia are referred to as pheochromocytomas and extra adrenal catecholamine secreting paragangliomas (extra adrenal pheochromocytomas) respectively. The distinction between pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma is an important one because of implications for associated neoplasms, risk for malignancy, and genetic testing. Paragangliomas are rare tumors of the head and neck and are of diagnostic challenge. We report a case of 55 year old male who had a neck swelling, cough with expectoration, which on extensive evaluation revealed to be Paraganglioma with primary optic atrophy.

Arteriovenous malformation of nose-revision surgery.

Areteriovenous malformations are rare in the head and neck region and generally arise from intracranial vessels. We present one rare case with spontaneous arteriovenous malformations related to the nose.

Type II First Branchial Cleft Cyst: A Case Report with Review of Literature.

We report a rare case of type II first branchial cleft cyst that presented as an intraparotid cyst. Rarity and varied presentations of the first branchial cleft cysts have led to frequent misdiagnosis. High index of suspicion is required. Complete excision is the main treatment.

Safflower petals: a source of gamma linolenic acid.

Safflower petals have been shown to have a lot of medicinal and therapeutic values. Indian safflower petal samples were analyzed for the red pigment carthamin, protein and oil contents. The petal oil (4.0-5.8%) was further analyzed for its fatty acids followed by alpha linolenic acid (15-19%) and palmitic acids (14-16%). Gamma linolenic acid, which has a lot of therapeutic value was present to an extent of 2-3%; decanoic and dodecanoic acids (2-5%) were also present.